The Urlacher to Denver speculation began before you had time to finish dinner

Denver Broncos: They also appear to be on the verge of a title and offer a natural surface for Urlacher’s creaky knee. Denver just signed Stewart Bradley to compete for a job inside, but Urlacher is a better option. He could also lend a new voice of experience now that fellow old-timer Keith Brooking, who started 14 games for the Broncos in 2012, is gone.

Expect this hype to grow for another day before Urlacher signs with someone else. Urlacher had sought $11.5 million over two years. He felt the Bears' offer of a one-year deal worth $2 million was a slap in the face.

And herein lies the problem. Even if we assume the Broncos did have interest in Urlacher, whatever they offered would be perceived as a kick to the groin, which hurts way worse than any facial smack.

Love going back to Albuquerque, where I still have a lot of family and friends. These days, I'm stuck in enemy territory (Bay Area).

Posted by Royalwithcheese on 2013-03-23 16:30:45

i'm from NM too. nice to know a fellow IAOFM that's from NM.

Posted by tachiini on 2013-03-23 13:06:39

Ha yeah sorry, Royal. How crazy is it that with everybody suddenly meting out salaries on a 2009-era cap, it's hard to tell right now when people are being moderately serious. That sounded like a halfway serious suggestion. LOL :)

Posted by broncosmontana on 2013-03-23 12:51:53

That was mostly tongue-in-cheek, Montana. I don't think Urlacher has much left, and if the front office is going to splurge on a vet, I'd prefer it be on Charles Woodson. As a UNM fan, though, it would be some kind of poetry if he were to join the Broncos after my Lobos were bounced from the tournament. Growing up in NM, I even met him once. All I recall from the encounter is his freakishly large neck.

Posted by Royalwithcheese on 2013-03-23 01:29:19

not sure we need another rental as a two down LB..

Bite the bullet and draft a true 3 down LB or find one in FA..

I have loved Urlacher from day one and am still pissed that we did not trade up to draft him but instead took Delta oniel.. a few picks later..

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-03-23 00:59:25

Grist!!!

Posted by TJ Johnson on 2013-03-23 00:28:50

holy crap, GQ, thanks!! Where is Doug when I need him to check my titles before I press "submit."

Posted by TJ Johnson on 2013-03-23 00:27:40

I am no stickler for grammar and I don't know a to, too, or two from my asshole but I think one is missing from the title

Posted by GreasyQtip on 2013-03-23 00:14:09

Less than we paid Keith Brooking?

Posted by broncosmontana on 2013-03-22 23:53:05

I'd go as high as two years, $1.2 million for him.

Posted by Royalwithcheese on 2013-03-22 22:59:56

I don't know what I think of him as a potential match, but I got the distinct vibe from his Dan Patrick interview that he'd play for less than $5 if it was for a contender -- dude wants a ring. Patrick even threw Denver's name in as a potential match, and Urlacher's reaction was almost like he'd been thinking it but didn't want to say it.

Plus, he's not exactly hurting for money. From WCG:

"Flash forward to 2003, and it was clear that Urlacher was a special Pro Bowl type player, so the Bears re-did his contract to the tune of a 9 year, $56.7 million extension, another very good deal at the time. Eventually, even that hefty contract was deemed unworthy, so in 2008 the Bears gave him a 5 year contract worth $40.6 million. That would be his final contract with the Chicago Bears."